Carol's Mate

Chapter Two

Mark watched his wife dress. There were days when he still couldn‟t believe this sexy, beautiful, smart, and talented woman belonged to him. She was more than he‟d ever hoped for. More than he deserved.

Carol was right. Back in the day, he‟d been a major player. He looked good, and he knew it. Always a nice dresser, he carried himself in a manner that drew women to him. The military had only increased his appeal to the opposite sex.

Women loved a man in uniform.

Then she’d come along and ruined him for any other. He wouldn‟t trade her for the world. She‟d thought he was joking earlier, but all the others were only practice for her. Because of them, he‟d learned how to satisfy a woman, so that when the real deal came along—Carol—he‟d known exactly how to please her and keep her satisfied. No way was she looking elsewhere. He‟d make sure to always give his woman everything she needed and more.

Mark remembered the first time he‟d seen Carol. He‟d been playing football with a group of guys, and she‟d joined the opposing team. After four years of active duty in the army‟s GI program and an additional four years serving in the reserves, he‟d had no problems with females playing what most guys considered to be a strictly male sport. Long and lithe, even in the baggy sweat suit she had been wearing, he‟d had no doubt she could handle herself.

Ignoring his fellow teammates' heckling as they‟d tried to intimidate her from joining the game, he‟d settled down to play the sport he loved. He had been doing a good job of treating her like one of the guys until she took off the hooded jacket. The sweet curves that were revealed had done a number on him.

Her breasts were high and firm, and it hadn‟t looked like she was wearing a bra under the fitted, dark blue T-shirt. If she was, it hadn‟t done much to hide her peaked nipples. And when she bent over, the curve of her ass had made him want to take a bite out of it. She had a sistah booty. Not too big but high, tight, and definitely prominent enough to make a man sit up and take notice.

He‟d had a hard time keeping his head in the game after that. He was too caught up in watching her move. They‟d already realized she was quick on her feet, but she was also graceful like a gazelle, with the ability to slip through their fingers like water. A pure pleasure to watch. Her pecan brown complexion, coupled with dark brown eyes with a hint of gold, had drawn his gaze again and again. Long microplaits of what looked to be her real hair and not weave had fallen in a wave down her back, making him want to tangle his fingers in it as he drew her to him for a kiss.

He‟d never been so enthralled by a woman.

Then came the last play of the day when he‟d unexpectedly tackled her hard.

He‟d fully expected her to dodge him as she‟d done any of the other guys who‟d gotten in range, so he hadn‟t held back. He didn‟t know who was more surprised when they‟d bounced off the ground before settling in a tangle of arms and legs—her or him. Immediately he‟d become concerned he‟d hurt her.

He should have known better. Despite her delicate looks, she was tough. When she‟d left the game soon after, he‟d followed and asked her out, unable to help himself. She‟d shot him down. At first he‟d been shocked.

At twenty-eight, he was older than most full-time college students. His time in the military had given him an air of competency and maturity that a lot of other college guys lacked, as well as a buff, muscular physique he‟d kept up even after his discharge. He didn‟t have a problem gaining female companionship, and he was attractive enough that women sought him out. But this one, she‟d said no. No explanations, no qualifications, just no.

He‟d pushed until she gave him some lame excuse about focusing on her education, but the look she‟d given him… She‟d wanted him, and the feeling had been mutual. He determined then and there he‟d have her.

It turned out to be easier said than done. She‟d avoided him at every turn.

Refused every invitation. Wouldn‟t tell him where she lived or give him her phone number. If he showed up at some place where she was, she‟d leave soon after.

Carol hadn‟t been playing hard to get. She really wasn‟t interested in a relationship with him or any other guy. Mark knew because he‟d asked around. She hadn‟t dated anyone in the three, almost four years she‟d been on campus. He should have left it alone. Left her alone, but he couldn‟t. It was as though he was being driven to pursue and possess her. He couldn‟t understand—not then—why he‟d wanted her in a way he‟d never wanted another female. Now he knew it had been the mating fever at work.

It had made him crazy. He‟d had a hard time concentrating on his studies.

Finally he‟d cornered her…

“Look, I don‟t understand what it is about you that has me acting like a crazed stalker. I‟ll make you a deal. Have a cup of coffee with me in the student lounge.

Just one. Spend a few minutes getting to know me, and if, at the end of that time, you still aren‟t interested, I‟ll leave you alone.” Her gaze was uncertain. “You promise?”

By this point, he was beyond ego. It had been a little over six weeks since their first meeting, and his attraction to her was getting worse, not better. Maybe if he could convince himself she wasn‟t feeling it too, he could have left it alone. But every time he caught her off guard, when she didn‟t think he was looking, he could see a matching hunger in her eyes. “Yes, I promise.” God help him to keep it because he was at the point where he didn‟t think even a restraining order could make him leave her alone.

“Okay.” Though she agreed, she still sounded hesitant.

Before she could change her mind, he grabbed her arm and towed her with him to the nearest student lounge. He purchased two cups of coffee and guided Carol to a corner table in the back, where they‟d have a bit of privacy.

“So what are you studying?” he asked.

“Right now I‟m in the nursing program to be an RN. I‟m considering whether I want to continue my studies and become a nurse-practitioner.”

“What‟s the difference?”

“An NP can do more. What about you?”

“I‟m in pharmacy school with a minor in business management. Eventually I‟d like to own my own pharmacy.”

“Really? How‟d you get involved with that?”

“I‟ve always liked medicine and studying sicknesses and diseases but didn‟t want to be a doctor. This was the next best thing. What about you?”

“My pa—town is small and always in need of trained medical staff. I wanted to help out, and fortunately for me, I‟ve always had a fascination with medicine and a desire to help people,” she explained.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“A small town a few hours from here, up in the mountains. I doubt you‟ve heard of it. What about you?”

He took a sip of coffee before responding. “Originally from Philly. My last duty station was here in North Carolina, and I stayed to attend school.”

“You were in the military?” she asked.

“Army. Eight years altogether.”

Carol played with the empty sugar packets on the table. “You didn‟t want to go back and be with your family?”

“Nah. With the gangs and stuff, Mom was glad to see me go, make something of myself. She was scared if I returned I‟d fall back in with the same do-nothing crowd. Since it was always a possibility, I heeded her advice and came here instead.

I take it after you get your degree, you‟re going back home to your family?” She gazed over his shoulder, her eyes unfocused and a little sad. “My parents died in a car accident when I was nine. There is no other family that I know of. I was raised by my court-appointed guardians.”

“That‟s sad.” He reached out and touched her hand where it lay on the table, sorry he‟d brought up the subject. He could tell their deaths still bothered her.

Carol‟s gaze met his. “Yeah, but I was lucky. They treat me like one of their own, even after I was such a horrible pain in the ass to them.”

“I‟m sure they understood that you were grieving.” She shook her head. “Back then I was angry at the world.”

“So you were an only child?”

“The only child of my parents, yes. My guardians have a son who‟s older than me.” She burst out laughing. “I made Alex‟s life hell. He gave as good as he got, though.”

He smiled. “Sounds like you two are close.”

“Now we are. Back then…?” She snickered, shaking her head.

Mark laughed with her, understanding completely what she meant. He was the oldest of three boys and knew what a pain younger siblings could be. The conversation flowed easily between them, bouncing from topic to topic. Before they knew it, it was evening and the student lounge was preparing to close.

“It‟s getting late,” Carol said. “We‟d better go.”

“I‟ll walk you to your car.” He scooped up their empty cups and packets and threw them in the trashcan.

“There‟s no need—”

“I‟m walking you to your vehicle. It‟s late and dark. This isn‟t optional.”

“All right.”

When they arrived at her car, he asked, “Are you busy Saturday? I thought we could catch a movie.”

Carol stood in the opening, one hand braced on the roof, the other on the door.

“Mark, you‟re a very nice guy, and I enjoyed our time together, but I haven‟t changed my mind. You and me?” She shook her head. “It‟s simply not a good idea.” That was not what he wanted to hear.

Having spent hours talking to her, he was surer than ever that he wanted her in his life. He stepped closer, crowding her, ignoring how her eyes widened and the way her pupils seemed to expand. “Before you make your final decision, you need to take this into consideration.” Mark snaked a hand around her nape, used it to haul her closer, and kissed her.

Carol stiffened, and he thought he‟d made a mistake. Then she released a small, sexy growl and kissed him back. Her mouth opened, and he immediately thrust his tongue inside. Her taste went to his head so fast he became light-headed as all the blood in his body pooled to his dick. He was painfully hard in seconds.

Mark shifted her so that her back was against the rear car door, gripped her by that ass that one day he wanted to take his time and savor, and lifted her until her sex cradled his hardness. He ground against her, letting her feel in graphic detail just how much he desired her. He forgot they were in a well-lit parking lot and that anyone could be watching. He slid his hands lower and inward, separating her thighs so he could settle closer. Then he brushed the inseam of her jeans, and the heated moisture he felt scorched him.

She arched into him, riding his cock while making hungry little noises, and his sanity slipped a notch. Mark felt the sharp bite of her nails digging into his shoulders seconds before she shoved him hard enough that he stumbled back a couple of steps, releasing her completely. He immediately reached for her again.

“No,” she cried out sharply. “We can‟t… I can‟t…” She closed her eyes, took a deep, shuddering breath, and seemed to fight with herself. Her hands, which hung by her sides, were fisted so tight, he could see the veins straining.

He wasn‟t in too much better shape himself. A little more and he‟d have taken her where they stood. He‟d never gotten so out of control so fast with a woman before. Mark took an additional step back and turned partially away, giving both of them the space they needed.

When Carol finally opened her eyes, he was breathing a bit easier and didn‟t feel like his cock was going to burst through his zipper at any moment. “This can‟t happen again,” she said evenly.

“But…”

“You promised,” she reminded him.

Mark reluctantly nodded, afraid to open his mouth lest he beg her to reconsider.

She slid into the driver‟s seat and, before closing the door, looked at him and said, “I‟m sorry.” The hell of it was, he knew she really meant it.

It was a poor comfort as he watched her drive off, leaving him with the worse case of blue balls he‟d ever experienced. After that incident, he tried to forget about her, interest himself in other women. It did no good. He went out on a few dates, but his cock refused to come to life for anyone else. The thought of her made him hard as a rock. Let another woman get close, and he went limp as a rag…

“Mark!”

“Yes, baby?” he responded absently, mind still in the past.

“I asked if you had the turkeys ready to fry.” She gazed at him in the mirror as she put one of the small diamond stud earrings he‟d given her as an anniversary gift in her right ear.

He smiled at her. “Don‟t worry, babe. Me and Alex, we got it all under control.” His wife was something of a control freak, but he loved her anyway, even with her OCD tendencies.

Mark moved behind her and placed his hand on her stomach. “I want you to relax and take it easy today. Remember you‟re carrying our baby.” She rolled her eyes. “I‟m a shifter. We‟re tough. Besides, with Mona and Tom here, we‟re going to have the entire pack running in and out of the house all day long. There will be too much for me to do to simply sit around taking it easy.”

“Yeah, well, I was human, and this is my first child. Take it easy for my sake, and I‟ll make it worth your while.” Left unsaid was the reminder of what had happened to her mom. Carol was in such a good mood he didn‟t want to spoil it, even though these days the thought was never far from his mind.

“Really?” She arched an eyebrow. “How you going to accomplish that?” He unsnapped her jeans with his left hand and sent his right seeking inside her panties for her clit. The scent of her instant arousal perfumed the air as he lightly stroked her in the manner he knew drove her crazy. Her earring tumbled to the floor as her hands dropped to rest on top of his and her body slumped against him.

He watched in the mirror as her face went slack, her eyelids heavy as she rocked on his questing fingers. He loved how sensual she was. “How‟s this, baby? Is this enough of an incentive to do as I ask?”

“Almost,” she gasped. “I think I need a little bit more persuasion.”

“My pleasure. Bend over and brace your arms on the dresser.” He pushed her jeans and panties down to her ankles, then loosened his belt and unzipped his pants, shoving them to his knees.

Moving into position behind her, Mark entered her slowly, watching for any signs of discomfort. Penetration was deeper in this position, and with her pregnancy, he wasn‟t sure how much she could handle. He rode her slow and easy, taking his time.

“Harder, baby,” she commanded.

“Not yet. You give me what I want, and I‟ll give you what you need.”

She groaned and shuddered in a way that signaled he‟d hit a particularly sensitive spot. He did it again and again until she was panting and pleading with him. It was all he could do to hold back. “Promise me, babe. Promise me you won‟t overdo today.”

“Yes, yes! I promise.”

The beast in him growled in satisfaction at her surrender. His mate may have been a shifter longer than him, but he was more dominant. Sometimes his wife forgot that and Mark had to prove he was wolf enough to force her to submit, but he always did it in ways they both found enjoyable.

He let go of her hips, allowing her to thrust back on his cock, trusting her not to take more than was comfortable for her. With one hand, he tweaked a nipple while with the other, he rolled her clit. It didn‟t take long for her to erupt.

He immediately pulled out.

“You‟re not going to come?” she asked in disbelief, gazing at him in the mirror.

He gave her a feral grin. “Tonight, if you‟re good, I‟ll come.” She closed her eyes on a moan, and he could smell her pussy release a flood of moisture. He gave a low hum of satisfaction. The longer he delayed his release, the longer and harder he‟d ride her when he finally let himself go.

Hearing a vehicle in the driveway, Mark adjusted his pants. “They‟re here. I‟ll go let them in.”